Calling all cloth diaper retailers, both present and future!

I decided to start adding some posts to the Cloth Diaper Geek blog that will be dedicated to cloth diaper retailers and to those interested in starting their own business.  Navigating the world of wholesale accounts, manufacturers and distributors can be confusing and I know a little guidance would have been appreciated when I was first starting my business back in 2007.

First let me start by explaining the differences as I know them.

Manufacturers, they’re generally the creator/inventor and the maker of the products you seek to sell on your website or in your retail store.  Often they deal directly with issuing and managing retailer accounts but in some instances they have sales representatives whom you’ll deal with if you’re in their territory.  Ideally the manufacturers facilities house the sew shop where the products are sewn but as a brand grows you can expect to have manufacturers ordering from larger sew shop operations and even from overseas.

Distributors, these folks usually go between a manufacturer and a retailer.  They’ll be issued exclusive rights to an area, often an entire country, to sign up new retailers.  They stock the manufacturers products, take wholesale orders and ship to the retailers.

One benefit of using a distributor, if you’re a retailer, is often that they will stock more than one manufacturers products and this is a HUGE perk for small businesses.  The cool thing is that they’ll usually and hopefully, have one minimum order amount that can be met by ordering multiple products and product lines AND this should mean they have them all in stock and will ship your order in one shipment which saves you greatly on shipping.

If you’re a small business and don’t have a huge amount to invest in inventory then using a distributor is helpful.  It allows you the opportunity to carry a wider selection of products without having to create separate wholesale accounts and meet order requirements with each and every brand you seek to carry.

So, do you want to know some of the Distributors I have come to know and love?

• Knickernappies!  Knickernappies is both a cloth diaper manufacturer and a distributor.  Through Knickernappies you have access to not only their brand of cloth diapers and accessories, you’ll also be able to order Wolbybug Diapers and Accessories, Palm Tree Diapers, Baltic Amber, Diaper Sprayers, Pregnancy Test Strips, Feminine Products, Prefold cloth diapers and more!  With just one order from Knickernappies you can have a pretty great selection and start for your new store.

For more information on Knickernappies wholesale opportunities contact heather(at)knickernappies.com or click HERE to apply for a wholesale account.  Knickernappies currently has an initial opening order requirement of only $500 and no minimum re-order amounts to be met.

• Eyla’s Imports!  Eyla’s is a Denver based distributor of Sweet Pea Cloth Diapers and Accessories, Dress Me Up! Organic products and Momma-Nature personal care products for mama and baby.  Again, with one order from Eyla’s you can have organic baby toys, teethers, gifts, a variety of cloth diapers and acccessories and a line of vegan personal care products that are safe for the whole family.

For more information on Eyla’s Imports wholesale opportunities contact ashore(at)eylasimports.com or click HERE to apply for a wholesale account. Eyla’s currently has NO minimum opening order amount which is practically unheard of.  They give you no reason not to add their products to your store’s lineup.

*Both Knickernappies and Eyla’s Imports offer drop-shipping for their retailers.

• Kelly Wels, Changing Diapers Books Wholesale!  Changing Diapers:  The Hip Mom’s Guide to Cloth Diapering is an excellent cloth diaper resource, perfect addition for making up your own cloth diaper starter kits and for retailing in your store or even lending out to newbies.  Kelly is also now the exlusive USA Distributor for the Lunette Cup, a reusable menstrual product.  Contact Kelly at Changing Diapers Wholesale for a price sheet and wholesale information.

So, this is just a start to my new cloth diaper retailer or retailer wanna-be resources.  Look for more posts to come!

Do you have a distributor you think I should add to this list?  Email me!